Italy’s U-21 coach fights a fan after loss to France yesterday

In what was supposed to be a ceremonial tribute to the Italian victim who died in last November’s Paris terrorist attacks, turned into an ugly finish on and off the field.

Italy lost the friendly against France 1-0, but the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole tale. The Italians played very well throughout the match, however events towards the end of the match (and after) will capture all the headlines.

French fullback Benjamin Mendy spat towards Italy’s Mazzitelli and then slapped Masina, and outside the stadium there was in essence a brawl between Luigi Di Biagio, the head coach of the Azzurrini, and a fan. One thing is certain according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, it happened outside the stadium near the bridge that connects Penzo all’isola to Sant’Elena.

The fight happened a little before midnight when the Italy players went to to take a ferry or a taxi to take them to a hotel or home. Everybody was free on their own time because the season had ended. Di Biagio was with his kids and was insulted, seemingly gravely, by a fan.

It’s rumored that among the insults was a reference to an old brawl between Di Biagio and Juventus’ Montero who got into a scrap during the Derby D’Italia.

Di Biagio, being provoked first, reacted with words then physically. The clash last just a few seconds before other fans intervened to divide the two. An ugly event after an emotional night, which had been more than a game, but a tribute to Valeria Solesin, a Venetian doctor who was slain at the Bataclan.

The Venetian stadium named a sector of the stadium in her honor and the fans had applauded her family (who were in attendance) for a full minute. It’s better to remember this, rather than what happened at the later part of the evening.

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